With a little #help, #South Florida #singles fulfill their #resolution to #marry

Some Jewish singles in South Florida who have made New Year’s resolutions to marry within a year have seen their dreams come true.

However, although Jewish singles can meet their matches online through JDate and other dating websites as well as Jewish singles groups, matchmaking experts feel the resolution to marry will happen sooner with professional help.

Jewish dating coach Bari Lyman of Miami Beach, who is Orthodox, and South Florida Jewish matchmakers Barbara Black Goldfarb and Nancy Gold initially began their businesses to curb the tide of intermarriage in helping Jewish singles marry within the faith.

“What drives us is the happiness we see in knowing we are bonding Jews with other Jews,” said Goldfarb.

Lyman, author of the 2011 book “Meet To Marry,” feels strongly that those Jewish singles who follow her advice as a dating coach will meet their beshert (Hebrew for “the intended one’) within a year.

“The ‘Meet to Marry’ method that I teach has led Jewish singles to discover their blind spots that has not helped them find the right person on their own. I help put them on the fast track in meeting and marrying their beshert within one year,” said Lyman.

Gold and Goldfarb of “Elegant Introductions” also have a four step process that allows Jewish singles to successfully match up with other Jewish singles.

“The first step is a personal consultation and assessment to evaluate the relationship history and dating goals. We want to know every single we meet as we discuss their physical, emotional and intellectual preferences, as well as their deal breakers,” said Gold.

“We then personally match up singles and do a thorough criminal background check. Before going out on a date, singles receive relationship coaching and post-date analysis.”

“We speak to both you and your date and discuss what you felt about your date and what your date felt about you and what you are both thinking about future dates,” said Gold.

Jewish singles who have worked with Gold, Goldfarb and Lyman shared their testimonies on how they met their resolutions to marry.

Carol Cohen (her maiden name) and Blake Hodess, both from Wellington, married in November, 2016 within a year after being matched up by Gold and Goldfarb.

“When I walked into a restaurant to meet Carol, I thought ‘could that lovely lady sitting there be waiting for me,’ and there she was. A year later, we are happily married and living a life that I thought was only in fairy tales,” said Blake Hodess.

“Barbara (Goldfarb) and Nancy (Gold) were vested in my future, caring about me and who was going to be my life partner. Blake and I are so happy that we found Barbara and Nancy,” said Carol Hodess.

Mikhal Newman of Miami met her beshert within four months after meeting Lyman.

“I was frustrated with all the singles I met on JDate. Bari (Lyman) taught me what to look for in a potential spouse, to ask the right questions on my dates. I learned about personal growth and working on the blind spots that kept me from finding my beshert,” said Newman, who is engaged to be married in several months.

Sandra (not her real name) of Miami met her fiance from Orlando by following Lyman’s dating advice.

“Bari’s program helps you get to the root of what is blocking you from finding love. The only thing blocking me was me,” said Sandra.

“With her (Lyman) guidance and tough love approach, I was able to attract the right person, my beshert, into my life,” said Sandra, who although not formally engaged, expects to marry in 2018.

Gold and Lyman each offer advice on those looking for their beshert in 2018.

“The hard part is making that resolution stick. But if you’re really serious, there are steps you can take to keep the resolution going of looking for a serious relationship this year,” said Gold.

“Resolve to think of your resolution as a way of life. Resolve to remember that big steps start with little steps. Resolve to keep expectations realistic. Resolve to possess all the traits in yourself that you want in a partner,” said Gold.

“All singles want a connection with a life partner with integrity to build their futures together through old age. We have to be aware of our blind sports that prevent us from finding true love,” said Lyman.